One last thing...

"We have no time to joke around right now, Mom," said Buffy. "We have to go rescue -- Oh, god. I'm turning into Giles, aren't I?"

"Not literally," said Joyce-in-Faith. "But I can see why you might think that. Can you untie me before you go?"

"Sure thing, Mom," said Buffy.

As Buffy proceeded to untie the knots she had used to tie up Joyce-in-Faith's body, she said, "You realize, Mom, that as long as you're in Faith's body, you have Slayer strength, right? So in time you probably could have broken free from those ropes even without my help."

"Good to know," said Joyce-in-Faith. "You keep telling me stuff like that, Buffy, I might be tempted to keep this body."

Buffy paused.

"You wouldn't?" Buffy asked with a tone of dread in her voice.

"Oh, relax," said Joyce-in-Faith. "What would a woman my age do with a body this young and strong? No, come to think of it, that's an interesting question."

"Whatever the answer is, we really don't have time to talk about it," said Buffy as she untied the last knot on the ropes she had used to tie up Joyce-in-Faith's body. "Besides, I know you're only joking."

But instead of responding to Buffy's comment, Joyce-in-Faith stayed silent.

Then Joyce-in-Faith said, "I want to come with you to the Bronze, Buffy. You're going to need my help, whatever the situation is, even if it isn't a trap."

"But, Mom, you can't fight like me and Faith can," said Buffy. "And it might come to fighting."

"Oh, I don't know," said Joyce-in-Faith. "I once proved pretty good at wielding an ax. In your defense, as I remember."

"Yes, I remember that," said Buffy. "Okay, you can come. But you're going to have to find your own clothes. I know how much you hate nudity and I highly doubt you want to come with me as naked as you are now."

"Well, there's a simple solution to that problem, Buffy," said Joyce-in-Faith.

"Really?" asked Buffy. "Do you know where Faith hid all the clothes or something? Because we really don't have time to search for them if you don't."

"That won't be necessary," said Joyce-in-Faith. "I know perfectly well where my old clothes are right now. They're on my daughter's back."

"Your daughter's back?" asked Buffy. "You mean the clothes I took from you earl -- Oh, God. You're going to make me take them off, aren't you?"

"Well, you do kinda owe me, Buffy," said Joyce-in-Faith. "Especially after that punch."

"Oh, geez," said Buffy. "But then what will I we -- Oh, all right. It's a good thing I love you so much, Mom. I wouldn't do this for anyone else but you."

And with that, Buffy reluctantly started to unbutton the blouse that she was wearing.

The things we do for our parents, Buffy thought, as she then proceeded to unzip her pants...